The small and marginal farmers account for more than 70% of farm holdings. Continuously declining farm size gives rise to concerns for the very sustainability of the small farm. With increased per capita income, there is a change in agrarian scenario with occupational migration and diversified economy. Many of the advantages of small holders reduce as countries develop and become more efficient to have progressively large and more mechanized farms. The success or failure of the small farms is determined strongly by the policy environment and access of farmers to inputs and information. Increasing fragmentation of land, natural resource degradation, resource -use ef?ciency including energy, access to quality inputs, post-harvest management, transformation from farmer to agripreneur, technology dissemination, linking farmers with markets and enabling policy framework, are the aspects to be considered for enhancing small farmers' income as well as Accordingly, the R&D approaches and policy support in agriculture need to be redesigned so that the small farmers are assured pro?tability with sustainability.This publication gives a deep insight into different challenges involved in small farmer production systems and the way forward to make the production system sustainable in long run.
Dr S Ayyappan, has significantly contributed to the R&D of fisheries sector in particular and agriculture in general. He has served the country in different roles of Director, ICAR-CIFE, Mumbai; DDG (Fisheries), ICAR, New Delhi and Secretary, DARE and Director General, ICAR before joining as the NABARD Chair Professor at ICAR-NDRI, SRS, Bengaluru. His scientific contributions towards the developments of agriculture are well appreciated and he has been bestowed with many patents and awards.
Dr Letha Devi G is currently working as Senior Scientist at ICAR-NIANP, Bengaluru. Her research interests include climate change and Indian livestock and ICTs in agriculture. She has been associated with various research projects on climate vulnerability analysis of livestock farming and development of various ICT tools for livestock farmers.
Dr MCA Devi is working as a Scientist in SRS of ICAR-NDRI. She has 26 years of professional experience in teaching, research and extension in dairy science. He has been working in the areas of dairy entrepreneurship development, ICT modules development and impact analysis of dairy technologies. She has guided a no. of PG and PhD students in dairy extension.
Dr S Subash is working as a Senior Scientist in SRS of ICAR-NDRI. She has been working in the areas of dairy entrepreneurship development, ICT modules development and impact analysis of dairy technologies. He has been associated with various research projects viz, dairy entrepreneurship development among SHGs, Small-holder dairy production system, milk innovation system and presently he is working in the area of documenting the status of indigenous cattle farming system of southern India.
Dr PK Dixit is a graduate in Agriculture and Ph D in Agril. Econ. He started his career as Scientist at NDRI in 1986. Presently, Dr Dixit is working as Principal Scientist at NDRI Bangalore. The research interest of Dr Dixit envelops economic analysis of dairy enterprise, farming systems and impact studies. Dr Dixit served as Editor in Chief of Indian J. of Dairy and Biosciences.
